The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest My "New" Workshop

I've posted a couple of pictures throughout the forums of the garage I'm using to build my '58 in, though as of the past few weekends, I have been cleaning it out to make it more useful. I already have a 10x16 movable storage building, but one could only do so much with one of those.

Some info on the garage: Its 27-ish years old (I can slightly remember when it was being constructed) and took the place of a much older, falling down shed that stood in the same spot previously that housed our '59 Biscayne. Its 56' long by 22' deep, a closed-in shed on each side with 3 car ports between them. Left port has my larger parts stash (fenders, hoods, doors, etc), middle port is where our '49 3100 resides until I start messing with it, and right port is where my '58 is. As for the sheds, each are 10x22 and have concrete floors. Left one is mom's, right one is dad's. But the reason for this thread is to focus more on my dad's side.

After almost 30 years, dad's shed had become a catch-all and an absolute cluster-you-know-what. It has no ceiling so the leaves from the overhead tree make their way through the peak of the roof and pile up on the floor. Also the dirt-dobbers and spider webs are in abundance.

Honestly, I have no idea how or why it got this bad. But I finally bit the bullet and began cleaning it all up to turn it into my new workshop. Its not fancy but it will work! Gotta made due with what I have.

And a current follow up! This is what it looks like as of this past weekend.

All the leaves are gone, all the trash is gone, all the random nuts and bolts and screws and whatever else that was hidden under the leaves have been picked up and tossed in a bucket for later sorting, and all the dirt that was stuck to the concrete has been removed (I went along with a wire brush and vacuum to do that, very painstaking).

I admit, it still looks kinda clustered, but its worlds different then how it was before. I can actually walk and the way through and touch the back wall. Once I put some shelves in along with bins and trays and peg board, it will be a whole lot tidier.

A lot of the stuff you see will be kept, already got rid of all the things I knew for certain were trash, need dad's help on figuring out what can be tossed. Oh and several boxes of old bank statements and insurance stuff ended up in the burn barrel, don't need that to get in the wrong hands!

When everything is rearranged, I'll run electricity to the shed for outlets and lights. Would like to put a drill press and bench grinder in there along with other tools, and move my workbench from my storage building to in there as well.

I'll give updates as I go along

Nice job!

Hmm, how 'bout some drywall to give something reflective for the lighting to bounce off of? Overhead lighting helps, lighting reflected in to places where light normally doesn't go is better.

That must have taken you a while to clean up. Your before shot is reminiscent of when the earthquake hit my garage back in '18, and everything I had on shelves wound up on the floor. Took me a week to work my way all the way to the back shelves. Good work.
I second Mark's drywall comment. It makes a world of difference. Much less cave-like with lighter walls, And easier to clean up in the future.

Looks like you have a nice workshop. Once you get some shelves that will free up more of your floor space. Watch craigslist, it's amazing what people are giving away.

John

Thanks guys

Putting drywall up did come to mind, I'll have to replace some of the siding first since its just as old as the garage and is starting to rot on the bottom. I think my phone played a part in making it look so dark, I realized that once I had the shed mostly cleared out, it was surprising bright inside.

I think 3 of those 4' Braun LED lights from HF will do the trick.

here in ILL inois they just tax the devil out of any biulding so keep your junkers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ha. I thought Pa was the land of taxes.

I have a suggestion that was told to me from a truss builder (I m a carpenter by trade) and that was to use seconds from a metal roofing company. I was gonna use drywall in my
new garage built a couple years ago but ended using galvanized corrugated steel. No taping, painting or maintenance. I am very happy with the light reflection and low maintenance.
If I can figure out how to post some new pics I will do so. No matter what good luck and have fun
Dan

Click on the "Use Full Editor" button at the bottom of the "Quick Reply" box, then scroll down a little and click on the "attachment Manager" button. Then open your picture file in a split screen (pics on one side and Stovebolt on the other) then just drag and drop up to 5 images...it will tell you if the file is to big. wait to see the images completely load (you'll see a small thumb nail of the image), then hit "done" and post as normal.

Mike B

Thanks Mike B.

Possum I feel your pain. I have been working towards a shop for a while now. I poured a slab in 2012, 28' x 40', still haven't added a roof. The roof was supposed to happen this year, we all know how that is going. In the mean while I have a 10' x 24' portable building that holds my tools, air compressor, welding equipment, blast cabinet, table saw, work bench, 12 ton press and everything for my 59' but the cab and frame. The running joke with my Wife is that I have what I need I just can't find it.

Update as of yesterday! Sorry about the pic quality, had rough weather and lots of overcast.

Got some peg board up a couple weekends ago, its a 6' by 4' piece next to a 2' by 4' piece, got them from work for free since they were sitting in the corner and not being used (boss did say that they were older than I am). Also got 3 metal upright shelves from a friend for free(one went next to the doors, another next to the toolbox, the other I want to take apart and redo), and hung up a couple shelves up on the back wall to just get stuff off the floor. Once I get a drill press, it will go between the peg board and first metal shelves(where the extension cords are hanging). The only thing that cost me so far was the plastic upright shelves, got it from Walmart for like $39.

I mentioned that I wanted to put my workbench from my storage shed in here, but had the thought of building one to go in front of the peg board and run the length of it, not sure yet!

Made a good bit of progress from the earlier pics, just a little more cleaning up will do!

And yes, thats a '66 Ford truck grille on the floor

I used OSB for the walls in my shop. Don't have to find a stud to fasten something, takes nails or screws easily. Not easily damaged if you hit it with something. For a shop a little caulk in the joints is OK and much easier than taping drywall. Just as easy to paint especially if you spray it.

Update!

Let there be light!....with the help of my dad Hung up 3 of those Braun 4' LED lights from HF, cut the plugs off them and hardwired them to each other so they'll come on at the same time. They're being powered by an extension cord for now, once I have permanent power ran to the shed I'll have them on an on/off switch.

And I added one more of those plastic shelving units next to the previous one. Took it from my storage building to give some space in there. It will hold the smaller and new parts.

Aw. The cat fell over.

Looking good! The lights brighten it a lot. Maybe some oriented strand board or other affordable product on the walls? Rolled with primer and paint? But, I like the idea of of metal roofing if available. Drywall does tend to get soft over time from moisture in an outdoor garage. Unless you use the greenboard (or blue-board?) type drywall for bathrooms and high humidity locations.

(Oh, BTW, I am rebuilding a 1962 F100 4-WD...I saw the grille right away)

He's nothing but a lazy bum!

Lol!